Following his education at Oxford, Arthur Milner came under the influence of the Liberal politician GJ Goschen. Under Goschen’s patronage, Milner pursued a career in journalism and in 1882, he joined the staff of the Pall Mall Gazette, edited by John Morley and William Thomas Stead. Influenced by Goschen and Stead’s views of Britain’s role as an imperial power, Milner developed a philosophy that argued for the consolidation of colonies and the improvement of living standards both at home and across the empire rather than further expansion into Africa and Asia.
Despite failing to win a seat at the 1885 general election, where he campaigned for increased social welfare and free primary education, Milner was able to further his career with Goschen and fellow Liberals. In 1889, Goschen secured Milner the post of director-general of accounts in Egypt. Working with the government of Mohamed Tewfik Pasha, Milner helped to stabilise the Egyptian economy and introduce reforms following Britain’s occupation of the country in 1882. During this time, Milner travelled across Upper Egypt and became convinced that the British occupation and subsequent reforms were beneficial to the Egyptian people and would foster international peace. He published his views, which relied on prejudices held against different ethnic groups, in his 1892 book, England in Egypt. For many years, the work was an authoritative account of Egypt and justification of Britain’s ‘duty’ towards the people of its empire. This edition was printed in 1893.